Top Stories
Recent film-industry headlines from leading publications, with short summaries and links back to the original stories.
Japan’s Film Funds Look Beyond Production Committees to Build New Financing Models
Japan’s production committee system, in which a group of companies jointly finance a film and share its rights, has helped spread risk across the industry. But it can also cap budgets at what the industry itself can raise, make it harder for overseas investors to take part and slow decisions when every rights holder must […]
Japan’s New 2027 Anime Award Should Put Creators in the Spotlight, Industry Leaders Say at Tokyo Market
A new Japanese anime award planned for 2027 should put the people who make anime in the spotlight, industry leaders said at TIFFCOM, the market of the Tokyo International Film Festival. The session was moderated by Fujitsu Ryota, programming advisor for the festival’s animation section. Shimizu Akira, a director of the Association of Japanese Animations […]
Ozu Shapes Mishima Yukiko’s Tokyo Competition Title ‘Two Cigarettes, Three Nights’
Known for her dark relationship dramas, including the 2017 multiple-award-winner “Dear Etranger,” Mishima Yukiko has taken a different approach with her latest film, “Two Cigarettes, Three Nights,” which is in competition at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival. Based on a 2014 novel by Chihaya Akane, it stars Matsuoka Mayu as Kanna, a picture book […]
Sourav Ganguly’s ‘Bigg Boss Bangla’ Among Highlights as Indian Media Giant JioStar Revenues Climb 10%
JioStar, the Indian media giant backed by Reliance Industries, grew revenue from operations 10.1% year-on-year to INR68.1 billion ($710 million) in the July–September quarter despite a weak advertising market. Profit after tax fell 13.2% to INR11.5 billion ($120 million). Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly hosted the first-ever “Bigg Boss Bangla,” which launched this quarter […]
Teodora Ana Mihai On Her Breakout Feature ‘Heysel 85’ & Plans For Her Next Film — Tokyo
After a buzzy debut almost eight months ago in Berlin, Teodora Ana Mihai has finally begun the international launch of her latest feature, Heysel 85, and this week the Romanian-Belgian filmmaker is at the Tokyo Film Festival, where the film has received its Asian premiere. Directed by Mihai, from a screenplay she co-wrote with Lode […]
How Keanu Reeves Landed in Stop-Motion Samurai Epic ‘Hidari’ – and Why S.S. Rajamouli Wanted to Know How It Was Made
Keanu Reeves joined Japanese stop-motion feature “Hidari” after watching the project’s pilot film, with his team getting back to the filmmakers about a week after the screening was arranged to set up a Zoom call, director Kawamura Masashi said at the Tokyo International Film Festival, where he also updated the film’s fundraising push. Kawamura, who […]
Georgia’s ‘Guria’ Wins Best Film at Asia Pacific Screen Awards as Thailand’s Sompot Chidgasornpongse Takes Director Prize
Georgian filmmaker Levan Koguashvili’s “Guria” was named best film at the 19th Asia Pacific Screen Awards, handed out Oct. 30 at The Star Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. Koguashvili shared the prize with fellow producers Olena Yershova and Boris Frumin. The film was made across seven countries: Georgia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Türkiye, Norway and Saudi […]
Ranbir Kapoor, Yash Light Up Gold House’s Diwali Event as Group Launches South Asian Shorts Fund
Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, stars of the epic adaptation “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend,” opened Gold House’s largest Gold Diwali to date at The Majestic Downtown in Los Angeles, alongside filmmakers Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra, a week before the film’s release. Gold House, which works to back and celebrate the Asian Pacific community, staged […]
Angel Studios CCO Lays Out “Values-Based” Initiative Banning Sex, Nudity, F-Words & “Misuse Of God’s Name”: “Hollywood Lives In A Bubble”
Five years into Angel Studios’ launch, the Christian production company and distributor is implementing “The Angel Promise” content standards. Co-founder and CCO Jeff Harmon explained that the initiative bans on-screen sex, nudity, the F-word and “misuse of God’s name,” in addition to expanding parental controls and allowing paid subscribers to choose which films and television […]
Bill Maher Fact-Checks Kid Rock After He Compares Abdul El-Sayed to 9/11 Hijackers on ‘Real Time’
Bill Maher opened his new episode of “Real Time” Friday night by addressing Trump’s 1,300-word social media tirade against him following their White House dinner earlier this month, with the comic comparing the president to Taylor Swift. Following a sit-down interview with Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who was busy hawking his new book on Supreme […]
2026 Daytime Emmy Awards: ‘General Hospital’ Wins Best Daytime Drama
'The Kelly Clarkson Show' won a leading five awards, as 'Beyond the Gates' also took home four trophies.
‘Beyond The Gates’ Wins Four Daytime Emmys In Its First Year Of Eligibility
CBS’ Beyond the Gates triumphed at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in its first year of eligibility, with big wins in the Outstanding Lead Actor and Emerging Actress categories Friday. In all, Beyond the Gates won four Emmys at the ceremony that was streamed on YouTube. The sudser penned by Michele Val Jean debuted […]
Bill Maher Responds to Trump’s 1,318-Word Social Rant: “He Went Off on Me Like Kelly Clarkson in a Toy Store”
The president slammed the TV host in a Sunday post, writing that he is a "COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSER."
‘Real Time’: Bill Maher Reacts To Trump’s “Longest Ever” 1,300+ Word Tweet Berating Him: “Kind Of A Flex”
Following his second date with Trump, Bill Maher is once again shocked at the ungentlemanly behavior of the twice-impeached POTUS. On Friday’s episode of Real Time, the comedian reacted to Trump’s record-setting 1,300-word tweet disparaging Maher as a “complete and total loser,” following their dinner earlier this month. “Did you see the 1,300-word tweet he […]
Bill Maher Fires Back at Trump by Comparing Him to Taylor Swift
Bill Maher learned that when it comes to Donald Trump, no good deed goes unpunished. On last week’s episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the political pundit defended his recent White House dinner with the president, exclaiming, “You know what? Fuck you. I like these dinners,” before conducting an embarrassingly chummy interview with Trump’s […]
Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff File for Divorce After Three Years of Marriage
The actress and Bleachers frontman began dating in 2021 and reportedly broke up in July.
Timbaland Files $15 Million Fraud Lawsuit Against Former Managers
The super-producer alleges that former manager Gary Marella and business manager Bruce Seckendorf "used their entrusted authority to enrich themselves and others, conceal financial misconduct, and deplete Timbaland’s valuable assets."
Selma Blair Breaks Silence On JFK Airport Arrest: “I Take This Very Seriously”
After her JFK airport arrest for alleged assault earlier this month, Selma Blair has broken her silence. On Friday, the actress apologized in a statement as she explained that she never “intended to hurt or frighten anyone” when she allegedly tried to open an airplane door mid-flight to New York City and later assaulted airline […]
LAPD Arrests Two for Murder of Christina Downer, Sister to ‘SNL’ Writer Jimmy Fowlie
Police arrested Downer's boyfriend, Delorean Bijon Brandon, and Kaylee Nicole Markowski on Thursday.
The Hollywood Reporter Wins 2026 Daytime Emmy Award
This was the third consecutive nomination for the 'Off Script' roundtable series, which has received a total of six nods over the past nine years.
‘Fuxi: Four Tales of Feasting’ Review: Whimsical Chinese Film Explores Myth and History Through a Series of Tasty Treats
In Qiu Jiongjiong's latest, highly stylized sets and costumes contribute to a strange banquet of storytelling where food plays a key role.
LAPD Arrests 2 In Connection With Killing Of ‘SNL’ Writer Jimmy Fowlie’s Sister
Nearly a year after she went missing, LAPD has arrested two people in connection to the death of Christina Downer, the late sister of Saturday Night Live writer Jimmy Fowlie. On Thursday, officers took 41-year-old Delorean Bijon Brandon, who is believed to be Downer’s boyfriend, and Kaylee Markowski, 34, into custody for allegedly murdering and […]
Selma Blair Apologizes for Plane Arrest: “Not One Day Have I Intended to Hurt or Frighten Anyone”
The actress was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Oct. 11 after an alleged incident on a Delta plane that resulted in two flight attendants being injured and one being sent to the hospital.
Eric Bauza To Make Posthumous Debut In ‘The Simpsons’ Playing Two Characters
Eric Bauza had more than 400 acting credits, voicing dozens of Looney characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepé Le Pew, Porky Pig, Road Runner, Elmer Fudd and Marvin the Martian and many more prior to his unexpected death on October 25 at the age of 46. But one iconic animated […]
Martin Scorsese Says His ‘Cleopatra’ Movie With Angelina Jolie Was ‘Ruined’ by Seth Rogen and the Sony Hack: ‘It Was Gonna Be Really Wild’
Martin Scorsese’s “Cleopatra” never came to fruition, and he says the Angelina Jolie-starrer was nixed because of Seth Rogen and the Sony hack. For those who need a refresher, Sony emails were hacked in November 2014 by a group that hoped the Seth Rogen comedy “The Interview,” which was about a fictional assassination attempt of […]
‘The Celebrity Traitors’ Season 2 Crowns Its Winners After Dramatic Finale
The BBC reality series, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, wrapped its second installment Friday.
‘Kelly Clarkson Show,’ ‘General Hospital,’ ‘Beyond the Gates’ Lead Daytime Emmys 2026 Winners
“The Kelly Clarkson Show” went out with a bang. The daytime talk show won five awards at the 53rd Daytime Emmys on Friday, including the top daytime talk prize, the most of any program. Meanwhile, ABC’s “General Hospital” scored the top daytime drama prize (for the sixth consecutive year), winning four overall — tied with […]